Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-12-02
THE MAXIM MACHINE GUN.
Az Engine Which Fires Six Hundred
Shots n Minute

Shots u Minute
Statisticians inform us that the entire
Loss OF lie In wars between so-culled civil.
lied countries from the year 1913 10 1877
has reached the enormous alno"at OF
4,47O.OO0. To many persons these figures
convey sad and s'lluulry lesson. On the
other hand. there are many who act as II
they needed or knew them not Readers viii
differ as 10 whether il is laudable or other
wise 10 invent any means by which the
above figures might possibly be increased
but, leaving the sentimental part Of the
subject usids, oil will readily unite In I'd.
miring the wonderful mechanism which
makes the Maxim machine gun an engine
OF terrible destructiyenuSs. Particular IN.
terest attaches 10 II al the present time ow
my 10 tie fact that the great Afr can ex
lorer, Sie"ley. provided himself With
TINS Formidable weapon. 10 DC used defenS-
lively Ia the expedition on which he re
c. nuy started for the relief Of Enin Bey.
Moreover. II Obtained u 20, l me l al the
Inventions Exhibition, and has been up.
proved Z, Il not actually adopted, by
many governments. the Chinese Govern
ment bang particularly mentioned a1 one
of the largest purchasers.
Its rate If tring-6O0 rounds minute
is at least tnrec times ns rapid as that OF
any other machine gun. 1t has only sin
gle barrel. which, when the shot is tlred,
recoils q distance OF three-Quartcrs Of an
inch on the other parts OF the gun. This
tecou sets moving the machinery which
automatically keeps up continuous Ere
at the extraordinary rate Of tea rounds a
second. Each recoll OF the rTel has
therefore, 10 perform the necessary func
IONS Of extracting and electing the empty
cartridge. OF bringing up the next full one
aud placing II in It's proper position in the
barrel, OF cooking the hammer and pulling
the trigger. AS long rs the firing con
tinues these functions are repeated round
after round In succession. The barrel is
provided with water Jacket, 10 prevent
excessive heating; and is 80 mounted that
il can be raised or lowered or set al an
angle, or turned horizontally 10 the left or
TO the right. The bore is adapted TO the
present size Of cartridges; and the maxi
mum range IS 500 yards. The gun
can therefore be made 10 sweep q
circle upwards Of mile in radius.
Nor is the gun excessively heavy. il
total weight being only iO6 pounds, made
up thus: Tripod 80 pounds pivot ION
which the gun turns and by which IL is
attached 10 the tripod, 10 pounds: Gan
and firing mechanism, 40 pounds The
parts can be easily detached aud coDven
iently folded for carriage. and may be pui
together again so quickly that If the belt
containing the cartridges is in position, the
first shot can bc delivered within ten sec.
0nds. II would. thercfore,'b extremely
seryiccable in preventing disaster through
body OF troops being surprised. Recon.
uoltei ing parties too. would deem il prI.
dent 10 pay greater Difference 10 an en-.
emy's lonely sentry on advanced outpost
duty II the latter were provided with thie
new machine gun, instead OF the ordinary
ride
Immediately below the barrel Of the gun
a box Is placed containing the belt which
carries tho cartridges The belts vary IL
length. Those commonly used arc seven
feet long and capable Of holding 500 car.
tridges. shorter ones hold 30 cartridges,
but the several pieces can be Joined to-
geiher for continuous firing. Single shots
can be tired al any time, whether the belt
is in position or not-in the former case
by pressing button. which prevents the
rpcOil: In the latter by hand loading in
tn ordinary way. To start firing, one
snd Of the belt is inserted in the gun, the
trigger is pulled by the hand once. after
which the movement becomes continuous
Ind automatic as long as The supply OK
cartridges lasts At each recoil OF the bar
rel the belt is pushed sufficiently upward
TO bring the next cartridge into position;
the mechanism CraSps this cartridge,
draws it from the belt and passes It on "a
the barrel Should a faulty or ON empty
cartridge find It's way in. aud the gun does
not 20 of in consequence, there is. of
course no rccoil to keep up the repeating
action, and the mechanism ceases 10 work
until the obstruction is removed.